Coach Tom Bass brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to USA Football. Along with answering youth coaching questions, he also receives emails from young players. You can email the coach at NFLAskTheCoach@aol.com.
Gerald sent the following question:
I play fullback for the varsity team at my high school. I'll be a senior next year and am making the transition from fullback to wingback/inside receiver. I can run the ball well and catch somewhat well, but I want to master my catching so I can be a double threat. What drills can I do to improve my hands for every kind of catch and perfect my routes? What should I know about defensive coverage?
Hi Gerald,
When you release off the line of scrimmage on a pass play, try to determine right away if there is a defensive player running with you or if the defensive players are merely dropping off the line to an area of the field.
If there is a player running with you, it will be man-to-man pass coverage. You will need to make a move (fake him one way and break the other) in order to get open. Your pass route should be run to get separation from the defender and put you in position to make the catch.
You will be working against a zone pass defense when the defensive players are dropping into an area of the field. Now your objective is to try to find the free areas in between the defensive players where you can catch the ball.
You should be able to determine which type of coverage you are facing within your first few steps of your pass route.
To improve your catching, work on your hand position and arm extension as you receive the ball. Make certain that you have your little fingers together, palms up for any pass that is below your numbers, over either shoulder or out in front of you. For a pass at or above the numbers, you want to have your thumbs together with your palms tilted slightly back.
For both receptions, you want to reach out and be able to see both of your hands and the ball at the moment of the catch. Practice immediately securing the ball after the reception.
If you do not have someone to throw you the ball, take a tennis ball and practice throwing and catching against a wall. You can vary the velocity of the ball, the location it comes back to you, the distance of the flight of the ball and your body position, so that you have to quickly reach out and get your hands in the proper position to make the catch.
One thing to remember is that you will be running a lot more at wingback than you did at fullback, so make sure that your summer program includes distance and sprint running. I am sure that you can make the change and have success at your new position.
Coach Tom Bass
David sent the following question:
This was my first season playing football and I played on the offensive line. On defense, I played linebacker. I am only 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds. Am I too small to play offensive line at the junior varsity level? Also, if I permanently move to linebacker, I have trouble wrapping up my opponent after initial contact. Are there any drills I can do to have explosion at the beginning of a tackle and the ability to wrap up and bring down my opponent?
Hi David,
You are at a stage in your life where there is a good chance that you may grow and develop, so you may be able to continue to play OL. Strength and speed are more important than sheer size and bulk for the offensive line.
You might consider working some at the center position. This is an offensive line position that does not require as big a player and is one where the techniques you have learned in blocking can be put to good use.
Tackling requires good concentration, exploding off of the foot on the side of the shoulder you are using to make contact, driving up and through the ball carrier and pounding your arms into his body as you grab the jersey with both hands. Your head needs to be up, eyes wide open and your helmet should slide to the side of the ball carrier's body. You need to bend at your knees, widen your feet and take short power strides when you are in position to make the tackle. Avoid crossing your feet or diving to reach the ball carrier.
You can practice on a tackling dummy and then with another player going at half speed until you get the feel of finishing the tackle. In a game, there will be many times when you will end up grabbing the ball carrier any way you can and holding on until your teammates arrive to help you bring the ball carrier down.
Remember when you are blocking or tackling it is extremely important that you avoid using any part of your helmet when making contact. Your helmet is for your protection, should never be used as a weapon and is a vital part of your equipment.
Coach Tom Bass
Chris sent the following question:
Can you please explain the responsibilities of a middle linebacker and an outside linebacker?
Hi Chris,
The middle backer is usually stronger, as he must defeat the blocks of the offensive linemen. His job is to stop the runs up the middle and then to have the speed to pursue to the outside on run plays. On pass plays, he will usually have a shorter drop into an inside zone. The middle backer often is the player designated to call the defensive signals during the game and to make any changes to the play of the front seven based on the offensive alignment.
Outside backers must be more agile and have the responsibility of stopping any off-tackle to wide running play. They will often be asked to blitz from the outside and must have the agility to keep the quarterback in the pocket. They will often be asked to drop into an outside zone that requires greater speed than is needed at middle backer. In man-to-man coverage, they will often be asked to cover a running back in coverage.
Both positions are fun to play, with a little more hitting and contact going to the inside backer position.
Coach Tom Bass
Brandi sent the following question:
How long is the end zone on a high school football field?
Hi Brandi,
The distance form the goal line (touchdown line) to the end line (field goal post) is 10 yards. This area at each end of the field is called the end zone. The actual playing field is 100 yards long and then there is a 10-yard end zone at each end of the playing field.
In Canada, the end zone is expanded to be a full 25 yards allowing for deep passes even when the offensive team has the ball inside the opponent's 5-yard line.
When trying to determine how long a field goal will be, the general rule is to add 17 yards to the location of the ball when it is snapped by the center to the holder. If the ball is located on the 20-yard line before the kick, you would add 17 yards (7 yards from the center to the holder and 10 yards for the end zone) making it a 37-yard field goal attempt.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found on http://www.coachbass.com/.
